Western Reserve Hospital recently completed two of its most crucial annual preparedness drills this month via the hospital's H.E.R.T. (Hospital Emergency Response Team) response group. The team's first drill session focused on proper Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) donning and doffing to emphasize efficient applications of safety gear in the event of a disaster event in the area. The group continued its readiness training through a second session that focused on decontamination training, which includes the deployment of the hospital's emergency tent as part of its disaster preparedness.

Western Reserve Hospital's H.E.R.T. team was initiated to respond operationally to multi-casualty incidents (MCI's) involving contamination resulting from natural, accidental, or intentional causes. Annual training sessions such as these, as well as other educational events, are held to keep the hospital and its departments informed and ready in the event of a disaster-level event in the region. Each training session was led by Amy Carey, BSN, RN, CEN, TCRN, Manager, Trauma Services, Western Reserve Hospital.